Senate candidates throw it at FarmFest

Posted at 2:27 PM on August 1, 2006 by Tom Scheck

The Associated Press has a story on the Senate debate at FarmFest. The debate included Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, a DFLer, Independence Party candidate Robert Fitzgerald and Green Party candidate Michael Cavlan. Here's a glimpse:

Between touting their down-home credentials, the candidates -- particularly Kennedy and Klobuchar -- traded potshots.

Kennedy came out swinging first, telling the crowd that Klobuchar is supported by an interest group -- the League of Conservation Voters, which he never named from the stage -- that considers manure a toxic waste, and is opposed to expanded shipping capabilities on the Mississippi River and deep sea natural gas exploration to bring down energy costs for farmers.

"We have to have someone who really believes what farmers believe," said Kennedy, currently a congressman.

Klobuchar hit back by saying that she doesn't agree with every policy stance of the groups that support her.

"I don't want to get into the manure here, but I don't think manure is a toxic waste," she said.

Fitzgerald and Cavlan used much of their time to point out that they're not taking political donations from interest groups or political action committees. They said that protected them from the influence of big agribusiness companies that they said don't have small farmers' best interests in mind.

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